$450,000 Federal District Court Jury Verdict for Mental Health Facility Patient Beaten by Security Aides

Christopher Novus Davis, 20, was admitted to Chester Mental Health Center in Chester, Ill., which is about 60 miles southeast of St. Louis. Shortly after he arrived, he was allegedly confronted by a group of security aides in the dining room for standing without permission after being seated for breakfast.

Davis was placed in handcuffs and, once off camera, he was pulled to the ground, shoved, punched and kneed in the face, according to the court documents.

Davis filed a lawsuit in 2013 against Lucas Nanny, Tom Nordman, Josh Rackley and Terry Steward. He was represented pro bono by Sidley Austin LLP’s attorneys Daniel A. Spira, Julie Becker and Elizabeth M. Chiarello.

The lawsuit was originally filed in the Indiana state court but was removed to the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago under diversity of citizenship. In the first jury trial ,which was found in Davis’s favor, the jury signed a verdict for the nominal amount of $5. That verdict was overturned when Davis’s attorneys filed a motion for a new trial in June 2018 arguing that the verdict was inconsistent with the jury’s award.

The U.S. District Court Judge Staci M. Yanble agreed, finding that given Davis’s undisputed injuries, no reasonable jury could find the case at no monetary value. As a result, she ordered a new trial on damages only.

The second trial took place and the jurors signed a verdict for $450,000 on Dec. 10, 2019.

The defendants were represented by assistant U.S. attorneys.

Christopher Novus Davis v. Lucas Nanny, et al., 13 C 1260 SMY (In the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling federal and state jury trials, nursing abuse and negligence lawsuits, catastrophic injury lawsuits, truck accident cases, motorcycle accident lawsuits and bicycle accident lawsuits for individuals, families and loved ones who have been injured, harmed or killed by the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Melrose Park, Crestwood, Forest Park, Berwyn, Lombard, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, University Park, Monee, Mokena, Chicago Heights, Harvey, Blue Island, Chicago (South Side, Brighton Park, Back of the Yards, Gage Park, Near West Side, South Loop, West Town, Humboldt Park, West Austin, Little Village, River North, Uptown, Bronzeville, West Ridge, Ravenswood, Albany Park), Park Ridge, Glenview, Winnetka, Wheeling, Palatine and Palos Heights, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.